Learning to Play
Creating connections with peers in the classroom can often be a difficult task for children who have ASD. Many primary classrooms are particularly focused on integrating play and pretending into the curriculum, making it difficult for students with ASD to join group centre or play times because they do not understand how to play. To help students with ASD, teachings can create more guided opportunities for children to play. For instance, Nicole Mays, the administrator for 'The Autism Teacher' blog, creates visual guides in play centres that help children understand how to play and pretend with certain toys.
Follow the link below to see more examples of how she prompts children to play with a several different toys such as veterinary kits, pretend food and pretend tools. Teaching Pretend Play
These cues may helps decrease the amount of anxiety students have when playing with toys and may help students fit in more when a group is playing at a center.
Resources:
Mays, Nicole. (2011). The Autism Teacher: Pretend Play. Retrieved from http://theautismteacher.blogspot.ca/2011/07/pretend-play.html
These cues may helps decrease the amount of anxiety students have when playing with toys and may help students fit in more when a group is playing at a center.
Resources:
Mays, Nicole. (2011). The Autism Teacher: Pretend Play. Retrieved from http://theautismteacher.blogspot.ca/2011/07/pretend-play.html
Lessons on Social Skills
Other Resources to teach about social skills include an information booklet created by the Prince Edward Island Department of Education. This resource, specifically made for use in the classroom, includes sample lesson plans, games and resources to help educators to lead activities that promote good social skills.
Resources: http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/BldSocSkills_11.pdf
Resources: http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/BldSocSkills_11.pdf